TGDT: 10/31 - Predators (5-4-1) vs. Blackhawks (6-2-2) 7:30 PM

[R K]

It's a good thing a lot of you guys just started watching hockey, because you probably would have thought Sharp sucked too.



Sharp's first part of his career...prior to 25 - 116games - 19g - 19a



It was his second full season when he had his first 20g season (35pts at a -15 still), that he began to get it.





Stalberg's 25 - has played 125 NHL games...has 24g-18a. But if I just started watching too, I would think everyone has to be like Toews/Kane and have instant success or they suck.



But Tony Salmelainen would be able to do a few of those AHL plays Stalberg has done the last few games, as some morons suggest.

WTF you been?



Stalberg was the least of the suck last night. 7-2-2 and even some of the folks that know what they are talking about are whining like little dumb cunts.

 

[R K]

Remember when Kyle Calder led the team in points? Let's start comparing...



Hey, Stalberg came up big when the team needed him. Hooray.

He had a big game when the big guns were held off the scoresheet against the jackets. Yipee!

You take away all the big guns and Stalberg becomes... well, Stalberg.

Could be but at this point he's earning his ice time. When he doesn't earn it then there is something to squabble about it.



Yipee! man that sounds ***.

 

[Rex]

It's a good thing a lot of you guys just started watching hockey, because you probably would have thought Sharp sucked too. Sharp's first part of his career...prior to 25 - 116games - 19g - 19a It was his second full season when he had his first 20g season (35pts at a -15 still), that he began to get it. Stalberg's 25 - has played 125 NHL games...has 24g-18a. But if I just started watching too, I would think everyone has to be like Toews/Kane and have instant success or they suck. But Tony Salmelainen would be able to do a few of those AHL plays Stalberg has done the last few games, as some morons suggest.

I don't remember Sharp playing with Franchise players before he broke out, yet I have seen a lot of Stalberg playing with Toews, Hossa, Sharp etc. and wiffing on a lot of shots, chances etc. and playing on these lines when he hasn't earned the ice time. but hey, you gotta play devils advocate, that's fair. I hope you're right, I really do.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

Could be but at this point he's earning his ice time. When he doesn't earn it then there is something to squabble about it.



Yipee! man that sounds ***.

When are we showering together?



Yup. Stalberg is earning his ice time.

Yet Q continues to ice Scott for his brief appearances in the 1st period.



Hey, 2 points is 2 points.

 

[LordKOTL]

My take:



1st flukey goal seemed more that then a huge Crawford screwup. The puck was on the boards as opposed to on the glas and he tried to slow it down like just about every other goalie I've seen. If anything, he should have tried to get back to the net quicker.



Stalberg: I won't say he sucked except for the game winner, but he was invisible until the game winner. Invisible is not hurting the team though and I'm not about to say he's turned the corner, but it is a step in the right direction. For now, keep him where he is until he screws the pooch--it's certainly not hurting anything.



Lepistopheles needs to stay up. He's been far more good than bad.



Screw contributing on the scoresheet, the D (team D and D-men) needs to re-learn how to play in their own zone. That second goal should have never happened if they didn't decide to triiple-team one guy and leave the other completely open.



Kane: Unreal



Hossa: So freaking close.



Keith: Did the puck hit him in the arm or hit him in the clockweights?



Seabrook: Seabiscuit easily has Secretariat-levels of testosterone. Easily our best D-man so far.



Powerplay: Looked like the puck was moving and chances were being had, but no finish on it...Some cred has to go to Rinne for stonewalling us.



A nailbiter, but a good win. Chances are I get to miss all of Thursday's match, so get down to Florida and give Tallon's group a good working over.

 

[R K]

I don't remember Sharp playing with Franchise players before he broke out, yet I have seen a lot of Stalberg playing with Toews, Hossa, Sharp etc. and wiffing on a lot of shots, chances etc. and playing on these lines when he hasn't earned the ice time. but hey, you gotta play devils advocate, that's fair. I hope you're right, I really do.

Thats funny I saw a lot of Stalberg playing with Mayers and Kruger last night. I don't remember Sharp ever on the 4th line in Chicago. Ever.



Like you said lets call it like it really is.



give him some time. He had a great camp, got hurt and now is looking to be back in Camp form. If he sucks his MEANINGLESS contract can be traded, because I'm sure there are a BOAT LOAD of teams that will take that 800k or what ever on.



Redwings where here scouting the game last night. Strange.



Keith.. Puck hit him in the hand and un officially broke finger or fingers.

 

[PatrickShart]

Just to clarify... did you just compare Stalberg to Toews? First we're comparing him to Sharp... Now Toews? Wow... I guess I really am new to hockey because I haven't seen anything consistent out of Stalberg to compare him to anything more than Tyler Arnason.

You can compare them. The biggest thing all players need to learn in the NHL is consistancy, some are just more talented than others.





Toews has struggled early in years scoring goals. Kane has had good then bad moments defensively. Both need to find consistancy in that. the difference, they're star players with superstar talents. But it's short sighted to think their games are anywhere near their full potential, like any young players.



And Sharp coulnd't score because he wasn't playing with any talent....but it didnt stop Havlat from putting up 57pts in 56gms...while being a +15

 

[PatrickShart]

WTF you been?



Stalberg was the least of the suck last night. 7-2-2 and even some of the folks that know what they are talking about are whining like little dumb cunts.

Had the death of a close friend....then work has been actually making me work (been busy with a project....wtf is that?)



And then, coming on here...it's much the same whining...Stalberg, Kitchen, Montador, Emery, Scott, etc.....when the team is 7-2-2

 

[MassHavoc]

I'm extatic that this team is 7-2-2. It's probably even better than I thought they would be at this point. Getting 16 out of 22 points is great. I'm too lazy to do the math at what it projects out to, but I assume it's really good. Their are two big things going on though that have to be addressed to keep it going though, the types of things that if not address, as the season goes on it could really start to swing things the other way. 1. is obviously the power play. Which I think is bad but probably not as bad as it looks, and once this team gels on it, it will take off... really too early. They've already had 4 OT games out of 11. That's not a pace they want to keep up as it will add a lot of wear and tear, and more importantly a lot of extra points in the league. Especially if it's in the division. The good and bad of it is that 3 of those games they've come back in the 3rd to send it into overtime, shows they can finish strong, but also not good that they have to come from behind so much. I think hopefully this OT problem will help be fixed by the PP problem. If they start draining PP goals, these games aren't going to be even close. But yes, people have to complain. Because even at 7-2-2 we've seen reasons why they could be 11-0... well maybe at least 10-1, that Carolina game was a clusterfuck I guess. Fact is, there isn't a Perfect team in the league, and not a single fan base not complaining about something. So yes, we are coming in here with the same whining, and it's all justified.

 

[CLWolf81]

I'm extatic that this team is 7-2-2. It's probably even better than I thought they would be at this point. Getting 16 out of 22 points is great. I'm too lazy to do the math at what it projects out to, but I assume it's really good. Their are two big things going on though that have to be addressed to keep it going though, the types of things that if not address, as the season goes on it could really start to swing things the other way. 1. is obviously the power play. Which I think is bad but probably not as bad as it looks, and once this team gels on it, it will take off... really too early. They've already had 4 OT games out of 11. That's not a pace they want to keep up as it will add a lot of wear and tear, and more importantly a lot of extra points in the league. Especially if it's in the division. The good and bad of it is that 3 of those games they've come back in the 3rd to send it into overtime, shows they can finish strong, but also not good that they have to come from behind so much. I think hopefully this OT problem will help be fixed by the PP problem. If they start draining PP goals, these games aren't going to be even close. But yes, people have to complain. Because even at 7-2-2 we've seen reasons why they could be 11-0... well maybe at least 10-1, that Carolina game was a clusterfuck I guess. Fact is, there isn't a Perfect team in the league, and not a single fan base not complaining about something. So yes, we are coming in here with the same whining, and it's all justified.

Oh it's as bad as it looks...



Hate to be the stat geek on this one, but according to NHL.com, what I was afraid of is an actual truth...



At 8.9%, we're 29th in the league on the Power Play. 28th at home and 27th on the road... So yeah, it's as bad as it looks... Don't kid yourself on that one.

 

[PatrickShart]

It's still early....and they score 2 goals on it - they jump like 10 spots (still bottom half, but still)



Rinne was sick last night. It's got a lot to do with rythm and confidence...which is getting better.



A few games in a row where it gets hot, and they can jump right up. They have the players/pieces, so I'm not that concerned about it

 

[MassHavoc]

Rinne was sick last night, just too many quality scoring chances for him to win I guess. If it's in Nashville maybe it goes the other way. Hawks used to be the team that struggled with backup goalies coming in and standing on their head to shut them down, now it seems like all goalies get jacked up to play against the Hawks. Probably because they really are as good as the 7-2-2 shows, it's amazing to think how good this team really can be. I can't wait to we get to the point where we start breaking it down every which way but sideways and comparing it to the SC winning team.

 

[LordKOTL]

My condolences PMXC:



We have holes on the team, but I think they can be filled. Overall I'm happy where we're at in October.

 

[PatrickShart]

Thanks....and we'll all be taking that dirt nap...so it is what it is....





I think the holes (like the ones in TCD's panties) or roles (like the one's on his mother) aren't bad at all.



Kane's taken off at center

Kruger is looking better each game on the 4th

I know some don't like Brunette's lack of speed - but he hides it well. he gets the puck to his linemates and is the probably the best Hawk along the boards/behind the end line. He rarely loses battles down there and sets great pics/chips the puck to his linemates better than anyone. He's a very smart player, so what he lacks in speed - he makes up for in other things. I think this team has a better net prescence than last year, and I think he's a guy that others can learn/feed from.

 

[PatrickShart]

The team has also looked good in the 3rd period (sans the CAR game)...which shows pretty good depth. They were flying last night in the 3rd - when it was the 4th game in 3 nights - and lost Keith, and Scott not playing..



Lepisto has looked decent as well stepping in....

 

[Rex]

Thats funny I saw a lot of Stalberg playing with Mayers and Kruger last night. I don't remember Sharp ever on the 4th line in Chicago. Ever. Like you said lets call it like it really is. give him some time. He had a great camp, got hurt and now is looking to be back in Camp form. If he sucks his MEANINGLESS contract can be traded, because I'm sure there are a BOAT LOAD of teams that will take that 800k or what ever on. Redwings where here scouting the game last night. Strange. Keith.. Puck hit him in the hand and un officially broke finger or fingers.

moot point, since Mayers and Kruger would have been our second line back then. Again, I hope I'm wrong, and I hope Stalberg shines. He has been skating a lot on the 4th line, but has also been playing with Toews. Stalberg had a good camp, so did Olesz who has been a healthy scratch all season.



and I never said trade him lol. All I have said is that he hasn't earned the ice time that continuously seems to get thrown his way.

 

[MassHavoc]

I know some don't like Brunette's lack of speed - but he hides it well. he gets the puck to his linemates and is the probably the best Hawk along the boards/behind the end line. He rarely loses battles down there and sets great pics/chips the puck to his linemates better than anyone. He's a very smart player, so what he lacks in speed - he makes up for in other things. I think this team has a better net prescence than last year, and I think he's a guy that others can learn/feed from.

I don't know who that's directed too but I know I"ve made fun of his speed in the past, but I just want to say that I agree with everything you say. I may make fun of his speed but I really don't have any problem with his play too much. I hope that he get's better throughout the year but he's here to do exactly what you say above. I would like to see him and carbomb switched to see what happens. I think Carcillo may be able to spark the top line, and I don't think the second line would lose too much playing with Brunette as they've shown they can play with TCD on their line if they had to.

 

[R K]

Had the death of a close friend....then work has been actually making me work (been busy with a project....wtf is that?)



And then, coming on here...it's much the same whining...Stalberg, Kitchen, Montador, Emery, Scott, etc.....when the team is 7-2-2

Just don't tell anyone Kitchen is actually coaching the PK this year. That information might send them spinning.

 

[R K]

The team has also looked good in the 3rd period (sans the CAR game)...which shows pretty good depth. They were flying last night in the 3rd - when it was the 4th game in 3 nights - and lost Keith, and Scott not playing..



Lepisto has looked decent as well stepping in....

My question is why isn't Olezs in for Scott? Mayers can handle anything basically?

 

[R K]

Oh it's as bad as it looks...



Hate to be the stat geek on this one, but according to NHL.com, what I was afraid of is an actual truth...



At 8.9%, we're 29th in the league on the Power Play. 28th at home and 27th on the road... So yeah, it's as bad as it looks... Don't kid yourself on that one.

Really. Add the 3-5 the other night that were disallowed. It's not as bad as the stats say. Holy crap!